Color Trends

Now begins the month of romance, makers! Whether you love it or hate it, February is a month full of love and affection. That's why this month, Leisure Arts is hosting a Celebrate Love campaign, focusing on all forms of love. Self love, love for others, love for your pets, crafts, all that warm and fuzzy stuff! Leisure Arts is celebrating love by ditching the traditional Valentine's Day red, and kicking it up a notch by continuing our campaign inspired by Lion Brand's Colors of the Year for 2019! Lion Brand Yarn chose 12 fresh and unique colors to live by for 2019. Every month, we're going to do a blog post, and recommend some awesome yarn based on our featured color, and fun projects that match the meaning of the hue! This month, we want you to fall in love with our February color, Pomegranate, the second color in Lion Brand's List. Here's more on the color!

Pomegranate Spread - Lion Brand Colors of the Year

"A mysterious fruit that is at once sweet and sour, Pomegranate is several colors at once. Its skin a deep crimson, it’s berries a rich dark currant, our Pomegranate embraces the spectrum of these hues.

When worked up in lace and feminine silhouettes it takes on a romantic vibe, the deep burgundy also lends itself to gender neutral dressing and menswear inspired fashion."

It sounds like pomegranate has a lot of versatility to it as a color, so we wanted to recommend some versatile patterns to match! Not to mention, we have the best Lion Brand Yarns to boot. Heartland - Isle Royaleis the perfect balance between mauve and burgundy, and the yarn itself has a lot of great texture to it. Our second choice, Hometown USA- NAPA Valley Pinot, has a much richer hue to the yarn, and is great for when you need a strong accent.

Heartland - Isle Royale - Item 126188

Hometown USA - NAPA Valley Pinot - Item 126130

We wanted to show a wide array of projects that you can incorporate this versatile color into. So, find your favorite craft medium, and see if you've added another project onto your February To-Do list!

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Accents and Arrows - Geometric Fun

Point your style in the right direction with these lovely patterns that would be perfectly accented in pomegranate. Fair Isle Crochet has projects all about mixing colors, and getting the most out of your patterns. So play with darks and lights as you work in the Fair Isle Technique. Only two colors are used per row, and the unused color is worked over, weaving it into the fabric.

Fair Isle Crochet - Book 7236

Homespun Comfort Afghans - Book 75686

If you want style and comfort, try your hand at this cozy cross-patterned pomegranate accented afghan. Any pattern from Homespun Comfort Afghans will bring you joy, but this wrap specifically speaks to our design aesthetic for the month. It has a perfect balance of dark and light tones, and is soft enough to put you into a warm and fuzzy sleep state.

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Yarn Fun For Everyone! Gender Neutral Pomegranate Patterns

Lion Brand talked about the versatility that pomegranate can play in men's and women's fashion. Which is extremely important when it comes to creating long lasting clothing and comfort items. This pattern from Make in a Weekend Comfy Knit Throws borders on a masculine and feminine style with a striped design that appeals to both genders.

Make in a Weekend Comfy Knit Throws - Book 75679

Knit Hats & Scarves for Kids - Book 6721

Hats and Scarves for Kids features a lot of patterns that can be worn by boys and girls, like this beautiful wine red design (top right). The deep red tones look perfect against any skin tone, and is stylish, simple, and best of all functional. You'll look the best and feel the warmest during those fun days in the snow!

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Pretty in Pomegranate! Femme Fatale Fun

You don't have to wash yourself in our monthly color to celebrate how great pomegranate is, you can subtly celebrate with little baubles like these from Quick and Simple Wirework. Punk out in pomegranate with this special spiked design, or take out the spikes to go low key in the office.

Quick and Simple Wirework - Book 7214

Quick and Simple Wirework - Book 7214

No matter which way you wrap the wire, adding little snippets of color (especially a lush color like pomegranate) will always take your wardrobe to the next level.

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Romance in Traditions - Lovely Quilts

While we talk a lot about being creative and innovative, we tend to forget about occasionally keeping tradition. Quilting has always been a timeless craft that relies on designs that age like a fine bottle of (pomegranate) wine.

Quilts That Honor Tradition - Book 6698

Quilts That Honor Tradition - Book 6698

Quilts That Honor Tradition is a great book that keeps all of the beautiful and popular trends in quilting in one place. You'll find beautiful modern infusions featuring vintage patchwork and appliqué patterns (above) that make these easy to follow quilting patterns instant keepsakes. these specific patterns incorporate Pomegranate into their design effortlessly.

Remember, these are just our suggestions! We're here to bring you inspiration, you choose your own path afterwards. Tune in every month for our color inspiration posts, and see if you find your new favorite hue!

If you make any projects in this deep Pomegranate shade, tag us @leisureartsinc with #LeisureLife. We love to see what's going on in your studios!

We've got new inspiration coming your way, makers! We know you've heard a lot of "New Year, New You" talk from Leisure Arts this month, but now we're seeing red. More specifically, Anthurium! We're kicking off a campaign inspired by Lion Brand's Colors of the Year for 2019! Lion Brand Yarn chose 12 fresh and unique colors to live by for 2019, and we fell in love. Every month, we're going to do a blog post, and recommend some awesome yarn based on the featured color, and fun projects that match the meaning of the hue! This month, we want you to close out January with projects in brilliant Anthurium red, the first color in Lion Brand's List. Here's more on the color!

Anthurium Spread - Lion Brand Notebook

"This bright pop of color gets its name from the Anthurium flower, a bloom native to the Americas. The color inspires warmth, strength and opulent texture. The waxy finish on the petals evokes a subtle sheen that seems not from nature.

Bright red has slowly made its way into the neutral palette as it has been adopted into almost every collection of runway designers and we are not complaining."

Sounds energetic! We have the best Lion Brand Red Yarns for this theme (above).Hometown USA - Cincinnati Redis so saturated, you'd think it's pure pigment, and paired with a more somber tone like Heartland-Redwood, it's an unstoppable combination.

Hometown USA - Cincinnati Red

Heartland - Redwoods

We picked out some of the perfect projects that represent strength, warmth and are full of fun and opulent textures. Find your preferred craft expertise, and take a look!

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Heroes VS Monsters! Anthurium Inspiration

We're bringing you strength in the most inspiring form there is: superheroes! Huggable Superheroes is the perfect book for the superhero in your life. Crochet the villains away as you create cute and quirky heroes of all different superpowers. Charles, The Crimson Defender (bottom left), is wearing a signature bright and bold Anthurium-esque red, because he knows it gives him strength to protect his civilians.

Huggable Superheroes - Book 7414

Amigurumi Monsters - Book 7098

Lurking in the shadows, ready to take over the city, are these warm and cozy monsters from Amigurumi Monsters! They use their warm and fuzzy look to hypnotize makers into crocheting hundreds of these patterns, until they have an army big enough to take over the living rooms of every family. Which side will you choose?

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Warm Eclectic Kitchen Helpers

Get creative in the kitchen with these fun and functional kitchen potholders from Make in a Weekend Potholders and Dishcloths! Give your kitchen that pop of Anthurium, and add some character to your countertops with these dishcloth and potholder patterns that you can make in just one weekend.

Make in a Weekend Potholders & Dishcloths - book 75653

Make in a Weekend Potholders & Dishcloths - book 75653

Channel your inner Johny Appleseed with the orchard apple potholder (top left), or read rotten tomato reviews while knitting this vibrant tomato pattern, that can be used as a potholder or dishcloth! The color might be red hot, but you won't burn your hand on these bold kitchen beauties.

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Opulent Texture & Rainbow Surprises

One of the words to describe our dashing shade of red was opulent texture. What better design to work with than this DIY chandelier from Crazy About Pom-Poms! This lantern is blooming with multiple colors and beautiful filters, but (in our opinion), the most prominent accent in the pom-pom clusters are the brilliant light and dark red pom-poms.

Crazy About Pom-Poms - Book 7277

Crazy about Pom-Poms - Book 7277

Adding these fun surprises of color to this light fixture draws out the playfulness in your space. In our example (above right), we see how brilliant the room looks washed in the subtle filtered light, and the rainbow accents draw the decor in the room into a cohesive look.

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Strength & Creativity In One Fidget Friendly Package

You don't have to be a Yarnist to celebrate this color, you can play with fabrics and threads too! This stunning red project from Fidget To Focus ticks all of the boxes that make a great project. It's a fun flannel, with unique additions that make you think outside of the box, and most importantly, it strengthens your mind.

Fidget To Focus - Book 7219

Fidget To Focus - Book 7219

Fidget To Focus is a book that's designed to help people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Autism, and other cognitive challenges. With the help of 6 activity aids, these fidget friendly projects help keep fingers busy and minds focused. Strength is one of the words that Anthurium embodies, and strength of mind is one of the most important qualities to have.

These are just snapshots of what you can create in this bright red! We're here to bring you inspiration, you choose your own path afterwards. Tune in every month for our color inspiration posts, and see if you find your new favorite hue!

If you make any projects in bright reds like Anthurium, tag us @leisureartsinc with #LeisureLife. We love to see what's going on in your studios!

Pantone has done it again. They've churned out a rockin' choice for 2019's color of the year: Living Coral! We didn't know how we'd ever get over 2018's Ultra Violet, but lo and behold, here we are, admiring another bright, beautiful, and bold color. Pantone drew from nature and intimacy in their color choice this year, hoping that the warmth from Living Coral will "provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment." Too much of our reality today has become digital, and Pantone hopes that the fresh and inviting hue of this color choice will inspire you to unplug and unwind this year. When the time comes for your own designing, here is the color code and shade range of Living Coral (16-1546).

Check out what the executive director of Pantone's Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, had to say about Living Coral.

The color has already become a popular shade that's being incorporated into living rooms, clothing, art, and home decor. We love it so much, we've already started using it around the office. We all know that the best way to a fresh start is a fresh space, and it couldn't be more true for us makers. Here are some great Leisure Arts tips and tricks on how you can incorporate Living Coral into your 2019 life.

Living Coral + Diamond Art = The Perfect Kit for 2019

Diamond Art by Leisure Arts - Lotus Advanced Kit

We love how effortless and easy Diamond Art is, and it totally goes along with Pantone's theme of unplugging from media and unwinding with color. Our Advanced Lotus Diamond Art Kit (above) has the perfect shade range to satisfy your new hunger for Living Coral. The 13 faceted gems make the flower stand out in any room, and give your space that relaxing feel that will put you in the perfect creative state.

Paint The Year Away With Happy Abstracts

Happy Abstracts - Book 7412

Happy Abstracts - Book 7412

Most Pantone shades start with painting a room, or adding an accent here or there. So why not kick it up a notch and go beyond that color on the wall? Happy Abstracts helps you be bold and beautiful with color, and what better color to start with than the new 2019 hue? Go beyond the classic still life and play with abstract shapes and sizes as you follow the projects in this how to abstract painting book. The best thing about abstract painting is that you can make it your own! So this year, liven up your space with bright and brilliant paintings (above left). Just look at how nice the paintings look against that lighter shade of coral (above right)!

Live It Up With Coral Accents in Crochet

Quick Crochet with Flowers - Book 75684

Quick Crochet with Flowers

If you're looking to use coral as an accent only, these home decor pieces from Quick Crochet With Flowersis definitely the way to go. Tune into nature when you create these wild and wonderful floral designs with mixed media materials and fine weaving techniques. Go rustic with a lighter shade of coral like the branched out wreath shows (above right), or even vary the shades of coral in your designs, as the dream catcher (above left) does.

Lacy Afghans - Book 7199

If you want to accent your home with a nice afghan instead, try out this beautiful Lacy Afghan (above)! Perfect crochet patterns for any season, and comfy for every occasion! You can even change out the darker coral shade for a brighter yarn if you wanted to, the choice is yours!

Honolulu Pink Yarn - Lion Brand

If you're having trouble finding yarn colors similar to Living Coral, we have a yarn from Lion Brand's Hometown USA collection, labeled "Honolulu Pink" (above) that you can try! It's vibrant and bold, and almost exactly like Living Coral.

Knit Yourself A New 2019 Aesthetic

Dishcloth Dresses - Book 75615

Knit Color Block Blankets - 7224

For the knit obsessed crafters, we have some great versatile patterns for you try. Knit Color Block Blankets may be a book about simple baby blankets, but you can always tweak the pattern to make the blanket bigger! This contrasted and color blocked pattern (above right) is a great example. Contrast this navy blue an bright turquoise with a complimentary coral block or two.

If you're looking for something quirky for your kitchen decor, we have inventive little helpers for your dish soap bottles (above left)! If you want to show your guests that you're trendy and pay attention to details, then knit yourself little kitchen dishcloth dresses!

Quilt/Sew Fun With Embroidery Hoops

Hoops Hooray 7251

Home Decor Using Grommets - Book 7342

2019 will have one thing in common with 2018 : The desperate desire for easy breezy life hacks. Last year, our go-to book was Home Decor Using Grommets, with it's neat and functional craft space hacks (above right). This year, we have Hoops Hooray, a book that takes embroidery hoops to the next level. Play with swatches of fabric and felt as you reinvent home decor with these simple sewing accessories. Take the effortless and stylish storage pouch made from this adorable patterned coral fabric (above left). This project is the perfect mix of fashion and function, and there's plenty more projects just like it in this book.

Living coral was chosen by Pantone to rejuvenate your year and bring you comfort and warmth. Hopefully, we've given you some inspiration for your new 2019 setup. Start the new year with bold, bright, and creative choices!

Leisure Arts will be posing more inspirational posts about color throughout the year based on Lion Brand's Colors Of The Year! Our first post might even be appearing soon (hint, hint). Stay tuned!